Mission configurable shelter

ABSTRACT

A lightweight transportable containerized shelter includes wall panels made of a non-metal composite material coated at least on its inner face with a metal layer for EMI protection. The several wall panels are secured to a metal structural frame without the use of fasteners so as to define a containerized transportable shelter. The shelter meets ISO standards 668 and 1496. The shelter provides a continuous barrier to electromagnetic signals. Moreover, the containerized shelter is amenable to nine high stacking as required for ISO certification.

A claim for domestic priority is made herein under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) toU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/792,731 which was filed on Jan.15, 2019. The entire disclosure of that application is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to transportable shelters andmore particularly to shelters which satisfy military standards withregard to electromagnetic emissions (EMI) protection. In addition, suchshelters need to satisfy International Standards Organization (ISO)requirements with regard to robust transportable structures that arealso stackable.

In the modern era, the use of sensitive electronic systems has becomevery important for industrial, commercial and military applications.Electronic systems give off electromagnetic signals and electricalequipment is susceptible to such emissions. This is termedelectromagnetic interference (EMI), sometimes also known asradio-frequency interference (RFI) when in the radio frequency spectrum.Thus, EMI is a growing risk and an issue when numerous electronicsystems are in close proximity to each other, as their emissions caninterfere with each other, causing damage to the systems or improperoperation of the systems. Furthermore, EMI is produced by electricalsystems like power transmission lines and even cell towers. Because ofthe widespread use of power lines and various other EMI emittingdevices, EMI is a growing problem for electronic equipment.

Cyber security of electronic equipment is also a growing problem due tobad actors intercepting electromagnetic signals from such equipment as ameans to obtain information that was intended to be secure and, thus,steal the information or spy on the transmission of such information. Inaddition, bad actors can generate EMI with the intent to destroy ordamage important electronic equipment. Thus, a shelter or containerwhich provides proper EMI protection would be very useful for bothindustrial and military applications.

EMI attenuation and protection is provided in some shelters andcontainers today. Such protection is conventionally provided by the useof continuous metal walls or skins for the shelter. If the goal is tosignificantly reduce or eliminate any transmitted EMI, metallicmaterials which are conductive, such as steel, copper and some types ofaluminum are ideal because they reflect as well as absorb EMI. Theabsorbed EMI is then carried away by electrical grounding. Becausemodern electronics operates and higher and higher frequencies, evensmall gaps, holes or seams in the known metal structures will be a routefor the transmission of EMI waves. In other words, a shelter whichprovides adequate EMI protection at 10 MHz frequencies may notnecessarily provide adequate protection at 10 GHz frequencies. Thus, foracceptable EMI attenuation, the shelter should provide a continuousshell of protection, even at high frequencies. In other words, EMIprotection has to be continuous in 360°, i.e., from floor to wall toceiling, around the containerized shelter.

Containers suitable for transportation by truck, ship or air mustgenerally comply with the standards and regulations set forth by theInternational Standards Organization (ISO), namely ISO 668 and 1496, aswell as ASTM E1925-04. Furthermore, containers that are to betransported by helicopter, such as sometimes occurs for military orother purposes, must be able to support the dynamic load imposed on themby the lifting of the containers. Therefore, such containers generallyinclude a metal framework and metal panels attached to the framework bybolts, rivets, welding or the like. It can be appreciated that suchcontainers are inherently heavy.

Current shelters or containers are generally fabricated using thickmetal materials in order to obtain the proper balance of structuralstrength and EMI protection. In order to obtain adequate EMI protection,particularly at seams and corners, difficult processes like seam weldingare necessary in order to join all the components together and producethe necessary continuous shell of EMI protection. Moreover, the weldingprocess requires that the metal of the several wall sections be fairlythick in order to properly weld. Unfortunately, this adds cost andundesired weight to the container. In addition, if the walls of thecontainer are made of metal, then additional labor is required in orderto apply thermal insulation to the container so as to complete asuitable wall, ceiling or floor section for a shelter which is useablein varying weather conditions. Further, external coating of the metal ofsuch a shelter is also necessary, as metal corrodes if it is not treatedor painted.

As mentioned, to secure metal panels to a metal frame, welding or alarge number of rivets is necessary. Obviously, this is very laborintensive. Moreover, metals have become more and more expensive throughthe years. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide EMI protectionfor a transportable shelter at a relatively lower cost. It would furtherbe desirable to provide shelters which can be more easily assembled.

The maximum or gross weight of a filled ISO container is generallyfixed. For example, for a twenty foot container, the maximum grossweight is 60,000 pounds. It should be appreciated that for each pound ofweight saved in the weight of the container, another pound of cargo canbe shipped. A standard steel twenty foot cargo container weighs about5,000 pounds. Therefore, only 55,000 pounds of cargo can be shipped. Onthe other hand, if the container weight could be reduced to, forexample, 3,000 pounds, then the container could ship up to 57,000 poundsof cargo. It would be desirable to develop a relatively lighter weightcontainer which can still meet ISO specifications in order to increasethe amount of cargo which could be shipped in the container.

More recently, in an effort to develop lighter containers, sometransportable containers which are meant to meet ISO size requirementshave been formed of composite material panels that are fastened to ametal frame. However, the roof, sides and floor panels of such lightercontainers typically do not support any structural loads or provide anystructural resistance to externally applied forces. Therefore, the metalframework for these containers must have sufficient mass and structuralstrength to support both the cargo load and accommodate any externallyapplied forces. In order to secure such composite panels to the metalframework, fasteners, clips or other fastening means must be used. Itwould be advantageous to secure the composite wall panels to the metalframework by adhesive instead of fasteners in order to simplify andspeed up the process of manufacturing a shelter. It would also beadvantageous to provide composite material panels which can supportstructural loads and can provide structural resistance to externalforces.

As mentioned, the International Standards Organization (ISO) hasestablished the requirements for containers. One of these requirementscalls for the stackability of the containers. More particularly, ISOstandards call for containers that are strong enough to allow for a ninehigh stacking, i.e., the container at the bottom of the stack has tohold the maximum weight of eight containers positioned on top of it.Achieving this necessary structural strength requires a criticallyengineered structure and a lot of metal is required in the design of thecontainer in order to support eight containers atop the bottom one. Itwould be desirable to achieve the strength to meet the requirements ofnine high stacking, while using relatively lighter weight materials.

In most container-type shelter constructions, different extruded framemembers are necessary in order to allow the various wall elements to besecured to the frame, particularly at the corners of the shelter. Itwould be advantageous to provide identical extrusions for all of theelongated frame members which are employed to form the container inorder to simplify the process of assembling such containers meant foruse as shelters.

It would further be advantageous to provide a robust transportablecontainerized shelter structure that is EMI protected with integratedelectrical and mechanical equipment which is installed at the factory sothat the various systems can be tested at the factory and, thus, areready to use the moment the shelter is delivered to its operationalsite. In other words, it would be advantageous to provide a prepackagedcontainerized EMI protected shelter system which is ready to use at adesired location.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure pertains to a lightweight transportable containerin which wall panels are made of non-metallic composite materials coatedon their inner faces with a metal layer and which also employs a metalgasket at the joints of the wall panels to provide 360° EMI protection.The container provides a continuous barrier to electromagnetic signalssuch that a ferritic cage is defined inside the container. The severalwall panels are secured to a metal structural frame without the use offasteners so as to define an easily assembled transportable shelter. Thecontainer meets ISO standards and can be ISO certified.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a containerizedshelter structure includes a plurality of identical metallic framemembers with each member being formed to accommodate at least two wallpanels of the structure. The structure can also be provided with a door.As shipped from the factory, the containerized shelter structure can beprovided with the necessary electrical and mechanical equipment so thatthe shelter is ready for use as soon as the shelter is delivered to thesite.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, ashelter which provides electromagnetic interference (EMI) protectioncomprises a plurality of interconnectable frame members which cooperateto together define a three-dimensional structure, wherein each framemember is elongated along a longitudinal axis and includes wallsdefining a first U-shaped channel, a first groove open to the firstchannel, and, spaced therefrom, a second groove open to a first channel.A plurality of composite wall panels are provided, each panel includingfirst and second side edges and first and second end edges. Each panelincludes a first face. A metal foil layer is mounted to the first faceof each panel of the plurality of panels. An adhesive is located in thefirst groove of each frame member for securing an edge of a respectivepanel to a respective frame member. The first and second side edges andfirst and second end edges of a wall panel are held in the first channelof a respective frame member by the adhesive. An EMI mesh gasket islocated in the second groove of each frame member.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present disclosure, acontainerized shelter which provides electromagnetic interference (EMI)protection comprises a plurality of interconnectable metal framemembers, wherein each frame member comprises elongated walls defining afirst U-shaped channel, a first groove open to the first channel and,spaced therefrom, a second groove open to the first channel, and also asecond U-shaped channel which is oriented transverse to the firstchannel, a third groove open to the second channel and, spacedtherefrom, a fourth groove open to the second channel. A plurality ofmetal corner members are provided via which the plurality of framemembers are connected together to define a three-dimensional structure.A plurality of non-metallic wall panels are provided, each panelincluding first and second side edges and first and second end edges andeach panel includes a first face. A metal foil layer is mounted to thefirst face of each of the plurality of panels. An adhesive bead islocated in the first and third grooves of each frame member. An EMI meshgasket is located in the second and fourth grooves of each frame member.The first and second side edges and first and second end edges of arespective wall panel are adhesively held in the first and secondchannels of the respective frame members.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, anISO shipping container which functions as an electromagneticinterference (EMI) shelter comprises a plurality of interconnectablemetallic frame members which each include elongated walls which serve todefine a first U-shaped channel, a first groove open to the firstchannel and, spaced therefrom, a second groove open to the firstchannel, and also a second U-shaped channel which is oriented transverseto the first channel, a third groove open to the second channel and afourth groove, spaced from the third groove, which is open to the secondchannel. A plurality of non-metallic composite panels forming the walls,floor and roof of the shelter are provided, each including a first face.A metal foil layer is mounted to the first face of each panel of theplurality of panels. An adhesive bead is located in the first and thirdgrooves. An EMI mesh gasket is located in the second and fourth grooves.Respective edges of each of the plurality of panels are adhesively heldin respective grooves of the respective frame members to form a threedimensional structure. A ferritic cage is defined in the shelter by thecooperation of the metal foil layers with EMI mesh gaskets and the metalframe members. The shipping container is capable of satisfying shippingindustry standard requirements for stackability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure may take physical form in certain parts andarrangements of parts, several embodiments of which will be described indetail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a containerized shelter structureaccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the containerized shelter of FIG. 1along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged cross sectional view through a portion ofthe containerized shelter of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of a cut away portionof a frame member of the containerized shelter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the containerized shelteraccording to the present disclosure in a partially assembled state;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a corner portion of the containerizedshelter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper corner element of theframe for the containerized shelter of FIG. 1, partially broken away forclarity;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a lower corner element of theframe for the containerized shelter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper corner portion of theframe assembly of the containerized shelter of FIG. 1, with the uppercorner element removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a lower corner portion of thecontainerized shelter of FIG. 1, with the lower corner element removedfor purposes of clarity;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an upper corner portion of acontainerized shelter according to a second embodiment of the presentdisclosure with a nine high stacking feature added;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged top plan view in cross-section of a corner framemember or extrusion including the stacking feature of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view in cross-section of a lower corner portionfor an ISO containerized shelter with the stacking feature of FIG. 11and with the corner frame member removed for purposes of clarity; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a shelteraccording to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, illustrated there is a perspective view of acontainerized shelter 10 according to a first embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The shelter 10 includes a door 12 located on a first endwall 14 of the shelter. For example, in one embodiment, the door can bemade of a heavy duty aluminum alloy and can be mounted on the outside ofthe first end wall 14. In one embodiment, the door can be 7 ft. high and3 ft. wide and can be weather stripped and EMI protected. The door canbe locked with suitable conventional locks and provided with non-rustinghinges. A second end wall 16 (see FIG. 2) may be a solid wall if sodesired. Of course, a second door could be mounted to the second endwall if so desired. The shelter also includes first and second sidewalls 18 and 20, as well as a top wall 24 and a bottom wall 26. Ifdesired, the shelter could also include one or more windows disposed onone of the side walls. EMI protection for the window areas can beachieved by, for example, employing a ballistic glass, i.e., an acrylicmaterial which absorbs electronic waves.

In one embodiment, the various wall sections are held together byinterconnected frame members 30. With reference now also to FIG. 4, inone embodiment, one such frame member can be made of a metal materialsuch as an extruded aluminum alloy. The frame member can include a firstouter side wall 32, and a second outer side wall 34, with the two outerside walls being oriented generally perpendicular to each other andwhich meet each other at a corner. The frame member 30 can furtherinclude first and second inner side walls 36 and 38 which arerespectively spaced from the first and second outer side walls andintersect each other at right angles at a joint and which are alsoconnected at one end, respectively, to the first and second outer sidewalls. As is evident from FIG. 4, a closed generally square chamber 44is defined by the cooperation of the first and second outer side wallsand the first and second inner side walls. Also defined by thecooperation of these walls is a first open U-shaped channel or pocket 46and a second open U-shaped channel or pocket 48. Because the first outerside wall 32 and the first inner side wall 36 are oriented parallel toeach other, they could be termed the first and second walls of the framewhich cooperate to define a first channel 46. Similarly, the secondouter sides wall 34 and second inner side wall 38 are oriented parallelto each other and could be termed third and fourth side walls of theframe member which cooperate to define a second channel 48. It should beappreciated that the first and second U-shaped channels 46 and 48 can beoriented transverse to each other. Thus, the frame member 30 definesgenerally right angled corners for the shelter 10. An angled wall member52 or brace extends between the first and second inner side walls 36 and38 to provide additional rigidity to the frame member. The adjacent wallsections cooperate to define a second generally triangular closedchamber 54. The two chambers 44 and 54 meet each other at respectivecorners.

With further reference to FIG. 4, defined on opposing faces of the firstouter side wall 32 and first inner side wall 36 are first inner grooves56 which open to the first open channel 46. Defined on opposing faces ofthe second outer side wall 34 and second inner side wall 38 are secondinner grooves 58 which open to the second open channel 48. In oneembodiment, an adhesive 60 can be deposited in the several grooves 56and 58 before the respective wall panels are slid into the first andsecond open channels 46 and 48. The first and second open channels aredesigned to be of a suitable width so that an edge of a wall panel maybe inserted into the channel and held in place therein by the adhesive60 deposited in the several grooves 56 and 58.

Further provided on the first and second inner walls 36 and 38, andlocated adjacent the angled wall 52, are respective first and second EMIgasket-holding grooves 64 and 68. Accommodated in the gasket grooves 64and 68 can be a known metal mesh EMI gasket 70. EMI metal mesh gasketsare available in various cross sections to accommodate many differentattenuation and mounting requirements encountered in EMI shieldingapplications. Thus, for example, the gaskets can be rectangular, round,round with a fin or double round in order to ensure that enclosures orother equipment will be RF sealed appropriately. For example, the gasketcan be round. In one embodiment, the gaskets can be made of a knittedwire mesh with the material of the gaskets being made of, for example, anickel-copper alloy, such as Monel, a ferrous alloy, such as a tin-steelcombination or a beryllium copper alloy. Various materials for the meshgasket are more or less effective in shielding. For example, attenuationlevels up to 60 dB or perhaps even up to 120 dB at some frequencies arepossible with wire mesh gaskets.

Through the use of EMI metal mesh gaskets 70 placed in the gasketgrooves 64 and 68, a continuous shell of protection is provided againstelectromagnetic interference throughout the containerized shelter.Normally, this is very difficult to do around the edges and corners ofknown shelters. But, because of the cooperation of the angled wall 52with the metal mesh gaskets 70 located in the gasket grooves 64 and 68,all edges and corners of the containerized shelter are protected fromEMI interference. Therefore, EMI reflection, as well as absorption isnow provided in a continuous uninterrupted shell from floor to wall toceiling in the containerized shelter for a full 360° around thecontainerized shelter. In addition to providing EMI shielding for theshelter, the cooperation of the metallic frame members with the metalfoil layer and the EMI gaskets will contain radio frequency interference(RFI) signals generated by equipment within the shelter. It is alsoconceivable that the disclosed EMI shelter will reduce the potentiallydamaging effects of high altitude electromagnetic pulses (HEMP), as wellas the harmful effects of electrical coupling which can be caused bynear strike lightning.

In one embodiment, a shielding effectiveness of up to 60 decibel (db)can be provided in the frequency range of 1.3×10⁶ all the way to 10¹⁰frequency range in Hertz (Hz). The shielding effectiveness offrequencies from 10³ Hz to 1.3×10⁶ Hz can vary linearly from 0 db at 10³up to 60 db at 1.3×10⁶ Hz. In other words, the shielding can be asrequired by ASTM designation E 1925-04. This provides a minimumattenuation of radiated and induced EMI fields within the frequencyrange of 100 kh to 10 ghz. The containerized EMI shelter also hasgrounding properties to protect personnel from electrostatic dischargesand electrical system faults of internal equipment. If desired,lightning protection may also be provided for the EMI shelter disclosedherein.

With reference now to FIG. 3, the several wall members 18, 20, 24 and 26and the two end members 14 and 16 can each be made of a layered orsandwich-type composite material wall panel 80. In one embodiment, thewall panel comprises a fiberglass composite core 82. Adhered to an innersurface of the core member 82 is an inner layer or film or foil 86 of asuitable metal material. In one embodiment, the metal layer 86 can be arelatively thin film made of a material such as aluminum on the order of0.010 inches (0.025 cm) in thickness. The thickness of the metal filmlayer 86 can, in one embodiment, range between 0.005 inches and 0.020inches (0.013 cm to 0.051 cm). The metal foil layer 86 may be adhered tothe core 82 by a spray-on adhesive or a roll-on adhesive applied to atleast one of the surfaces meant to be adhered. The metal material 86 canbe aluminum, steel, or stainless steel. While the foil layer 86 isrelatively thin, it can be patched as necessary if someone inadvertentlypokes a hole in the foil layer. Because the foil layer 86 is relativelythin, it can better conform to the surface to which it is adhered, thancould relatively thicker metal layers. If desired, the foil layer 86could be coated on its interior face with a protective coating, such asa spray-on coating of a protective material, such as a resin. In orderto protect a metal foil layer 86 adhered to the floor panel of theshelter, a rubber or vinyl flooring layer or carpeting can be employedover the foil layer 86.

The wall panel material, if it is comprised of a fiberglass compositematerial, is very durable. As a result, there may not be a need for anoutside protective layer for the outer surfaces of the wall panels. Inone embodiment, the panels 80 can be approximately 2.7 inches thick(6.86 cm). A panel of that thickness is believed to meet the 9 highstacking requirement of the ISO. All wall, ceiling and floor panels canbe of the same thickness. The capacity of the floor wall panel can beabout 57,000 lbs. (25,855 kg). Needless to say, with different sized ISOcontainers, the weight-bearing capacity of the floor panel may well bedifferent. A fiberglass composite material is advantageous because itwill stand up to various external weather conditions which could includesnow, ice, or sand. Also, corrosion issues should not be a concern asthere is no metal exposed on the exterior wall surfaces of the panels ofthe shelter. However, if desired, an outer protective layer 90 could besecured to an outer face of the core member 82. If employed, such anouter protective layer may have the same composition and the samethickness as the inner layer. Of course, the outer layer could also bemade of a different material than the inner layer and could also bethicker if so desired for both structural rigidity and impactresistance.

In other embodiments, the core member 82 of the wall panel 80 may bemade of other types of suitable materials. These can include fiberreinforced materials (carbon, aluminum or aramid fiber reinforcedplastic materials), as well as thermally insulative materials. What isdesirable for such wall panels is that they have a highstrength-to-weight ratio, provide corrosion resistance, have a highstiffness-to-weight ratio, are chemically inert, have a high durabilitypotential and good rigidity. The wall panels 80 can be manufactured tothe desired size and can be mounted to the frame of the containerizedshelter at the factory.

Composite wall panels are lower in cost and much lighter in weight thanare similar metal wall panels. Moreover, composite panels are easier toassemble into a shelter, such as a containerized shelter because theyrequire no complicated welding steps. As mentioned, composite fiberglasswall panels can be covered at least on their inner faces with a layer ofmetal in order to provide EMI protection. A composite material wallpanel with a metal interior skin significantly reduces the amount ofmetal used in the walls of the containerized shelter, by perhaps as muchas ninety five percent. Another benefit of providing a metal layer onthe interior surface of the several wall sections of the containerizedshelter is that the shelter walls will reflect light well and will aidin making for an attractive and functional shelter.

In one embodiment, the shelter walls can be mechanically held to theframe members by an adhesive material 60, such as epoxy, as shown inFIG. 4. The use of an adhesive such as epoxy is important for thestructural strength of the shelter. In other words, no fasteners areemployed except at the corners of the containerized shelter. Unlikespaced fasteners which concentrate stresses at their locations, anadhesive provides a continuous transfer of forces (and connectionstrength) to the wall panels. As well, an adhesive provides a water sealfeature. Because the geometry of the illustrated extruded frame members,there would be no way to mount the wall panels of the shelter to theframe of the shelter but for depositing a bead of the adhesive 60 (suchas epoxy) in the inner grooves 56 and 58 of the first and second openchannels 46 and 48 before the respective wall panels 80 are insertedinto the channels. Due to the geometry of the elongated frame members30, getting all the sides of the containerized shelter to assemblecorrectly would have been quite difficult, were it not for the approachtaken herein. With the wall members having the described construction,all four long edges of the shelter are made rigid. So, too, are theshort edges defining the end walls of the shelter.

The containerized shelter 10, because it is of relatively lighter weightthan a conventional ISO container or containerized shelter, is thus moreeasily transportable than are containerized shelters having solid metalwalls. In one embodiment, for a 20 foot long 8 foot high (6.1 m by 2.4m) container, the estimated weight is 3300 pounds (1497 kg) for a 1C and1CX ISO container and 3600 pounds (1.633 kg) for a 1CC ISO containerwhich is 20 foot long by 8.5 foot high (6.1 m by 2.59 m). A comparableISO container made of a standard steel material for a 1C or 1CXcontainer weighs about 4700 pounds (21312 kg). The containerized shelterdisclosed herein has lower transportation and offloading costs and lesssite preparation is necessary in order to place the disclosedcontainerized shelter at its final location.

The containerized shelter 10 can be designed for the express purpose ofhousing electronic equipment and related components within a controlledenvironment as is necessary for the proper operation of such equipment.Moreover, the disclosed shelter is generally durable and isenvironmentally sound. One advantage of composite wall panels ascompared to metal panels is that composite panels may eliminate orsubstantially reduce the amount of corrosion that the containerundergoes when compared to the generally known steel containers. Aflexible epoxy type adhesive which joins the fiberglass composite wallpanels to the aluminum alloy frame will serve to manage the thermalexpansion differences between these two materials.

As mentioned, the containerized shelter structure can be fitted at thefactory with the necessary electrical and mechanical components todefine a shelter which is usable promptly once it is deployed in thefield. To this end, the bottom wall 26 of the containerized shelter canbe provided with a plurality of floor panels or tiles 94, which can bemade of a composite material, if so desired. Obviously, other types offloor covering, such as carpeting, could also be employed to protect themetal foil layer of the floor panel. It is desirable that thecontainerized shelter be impervious to weather and be weather tight. Thecontainerized shelter can be provided with cable trays, equipment racks,main frames, ground bars, halo grounding systems and shelter alarmpackages as may be considered desirable. It is believed that equipmentracks or the like can be attached to the wall panels disclosed herein asthey are structural wall members and can accommodate the weight of thecomponents attached to them. Affixing equipment to the walls does notaffect the EMI shielding which is provided by the metal layer 86illustrated in FIG. 3, since EMI gaskets can be provided for the boltsmounting the equipment. Similarly, ferrite beads or ferrite chokes canbe provided to encircle any power lines or other electrically conductivelines passing into the ISO container.

In addition, environmental control systems can be installed in thecontainerized shelter as deemed necessary. With reference now to FIG.14, a shelter 200 can be ventilated, heated or cooled. One way of doingthis is a direct mounted heating, ventilating and air conditioning(HVAC) system 210 which unit is mounted to an outside wall of theshelter 200 providing all of the HVAC functions directly into theshelter. Ducts which provide supply of and return of conditioned airwould pass through a known metal honeycomb filter that serves to preventEMI from entering or leaving the shelter. Another option would be tolocate the HVAC system in a separate pallet from the container such thatthe supply and return air is ducted to the shelter. Still another optionwould be a split system where a condenser unit would be sitting outsidethe containerized shelter and a separate evaporator blower unit would belocated inside the shelter to provide conditioned air. As mentioned, theshelter can be provided with one or more windows 220 (provided with EMIfilm-protected glass). After assembly, standard and customary wall,ceiling and floor treatments can be applied so that the inside of theshelter looks and operates as would a normal room. As mentioned, thecontainerized shelter can be preassembled at a manufacturing location.In this way, the containerized shelter ships as a whole and no fieldassembly is required.

With reference now to FIG. 6, an extruded corner frame member 30, whichis a vertically oriented corner, can be fastened at its upper end to anupper corner element or member 100. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the uppercorner element can comprise first and second stub shafts 102 and 104which protrude downwardly from a base section 106. Wings 107 can besecured to the base section 106 to allow for better fastening of theupper corner element 100 to the corner frame members 30. In oneembodiment, the stub shafts 102 and 104 can be made of steel, whereasthe elongated frame member 30 can be made of an extrusion of an aluminumalloy material. If desired, a steel load bearing plate 108 can besecured to the base 106 of the corner element for proper structuralweight bearing.

With reference now also to FIG. 8, a lower corner element or member 110includes first and second vertically extending stub shafts 112 and 114mounted to a base 116. Extending at right angles from two adjacent facesof the base 116 are respective gusset plates 118. Each gusset plate cansupport a respective horizontally extending stub shaft 120 and 122. Suchgusset plates are advantageous for absorbing “racking” forces whentransporting the container.

With reference now to FIG. 9, illustrated is an upper corner section ofone embodiment of the containerized shelter including three orthogonallyoriented elongated frame members 30 which meet at a corner of thecontainerized housing. In one embodiment, a barrel fastener 126including a fastener shaft 128 and a head 130 can cooperate withsuitable wall sections of the upper corner element 100 via apertures orslots 134 located in the base 106 so as to fasten the upper cornerelement in place and rigidify the frame of the containerized shelter.

If desired, a rubber gasket, such as at 124, can be secured to the endfaces of the extruded frame members 30 in order to retard rain, dust andthe like from entering the ends of the frame members.

With reference again to FIG. 8, similar slots 136 can be provided in thebase 116 of the lower corner element 110 in order to allow ISO containerlocking fasteners to secure the lower corner element in place on theframework of the containerized shelter 10. With reference now to FIG.10, it can be seen that suitable slots 140 may be defined in theadjacent frame members 30 at the base of the containerized shelter 10 inorder to accommodate the two horizontal stub shafts 120 and 122 of thelower corner assembly 110. Rivets 142 (see FIG. 6) can be employed tofurther secure the corner members 100 and 110 to the frame members 30.

It should be appreciated that due to the cooperation of the upper andlower corner elements 100 and 110 with the respective frame members 30,the containerized shelter 10 can be made into a rigid structure despitethe fact that the wall panels of the containerized shelter are made froma generally non-metallic material. In this way, a rigid and lightweightcontainerized shelter can be provided.

With reference now to FIG. 11, if desired, in order to obtain a ninehigh stacking feature required by the ISO for containers, thecontainerized shelter disclosed herein can be provided with a cornersupport element such as a metal rod. In one embodiment an aluminum rodis employed, which can be mounted in vertically oriented ones of framemembers 30 such that the metal rods 150 are located in the closedchamber 44 defined by the elongated extrusion of the respective framemember. In one embodiment, the metal rods can include a generallycylindrical body 152. Located on the outer periphery of the body 152 canbe a plurality of spaced wings 154. In one embodiment, four suchorthogonally oriented wings can be provided. With reference now to FIG.12, it can be seen that with such a design, the metal rod 150 is stablyheld in the closed chamber 44 defined in the frame member 30.

With reference now to FIG. 13, illustrated is such a nine high cornersupport 150 disposed in the frame member, with the frame membersurrounding the corner support being removed for purposes of clarity. Itshould be appreciated that the metal rod fits snuggly within thevertical corner extrusion and fastens tight to the top and lower cornerassemblies 100 and 110 via suitable fasteners 160, each including ashaft 162 and a head 164.

It should be appreciated that the simplicity of the design disclosedherein, namely, the use of identical wall panel material and identicalframe members is greatly advantageous because only a few parts areneeded in order to construct the disclosed containerized shelter. In oneembodiment, the shelter can be 8 ft. wide, 8 to 9 ft. high and anywherefrom 10 ft. to 40 ft. long, as may be required for a particularapplication.

With reference again to FIG. 1, levelling jacks 170 can be provided forthe shelter for use at its final location. Moreover, the shelter can beprovided with guides 174 for forklifts in order to enable localmaneuvering of the containerized shelter during the process of itstransportation or movement from its place of manufacture to its finallocation.

Disclosed have been several embodiments of a containerized shelter whichcan be used for commercial or military functions. The shelter can bemanufactured with full electrical and lighting systems and ventilationsystems, environmental control units and other interior enhancements,such as personnel doors and the like. Applications for suchcontainerized shelters include insulated climate-controlled office andcommand centers, EMI radar shelters, data centers, medical shelters,workshops, and the like. The shelters could also be used for armories,weapons repair shops, interim housing, military barracks, equipmentshelters for power generation systems, and the like.

The containerized shelters disclosed herein can be transported throughthe usual ISO shipping channels, whether by ship, rail, truck orhelicopter. Moreover, they can be stacked or loaded using a forklift ora crane.

The present disclosure has been described with reference to severalembodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur toothers upon the reading and understanding of the preceding detaileddescription. For example, it should be evident that a variety ofmetallic and non-metallic materials may be employed for the constructionof the containerized shelter without departing from the instantdisclosure. So, for example, fibrous reinforcement can be employed inthe wall panels disclosed herein for additional structural strength andintegrity. It is intended that the present disclosure be construed asincluding all such modifications and alterations insofar as they comewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shelter which provides electromagneticinterference (EMI) protection, comprising: a plurality ofinterconnectable frame members which cooperate to together define athree dimensional structure, wherein each frame member is elongatedalong a longitudinal axis and includes walls defining a first U-shapedchannel, a first groove open to the first channel and, spaced therefrom,a second groove open to the first channel; a plurality of composite wallpanels, each panel including first and second side edges and first andsecond end edges, each panel including a first face; a metal foil layermounted to the first face of each panel of the plurality of wall panels;an adhesive located in the first groove of each frame member forsecuring an edge of a respective panel to a respective frame member;wherein the first and second side edges and first and second end edgesof a wall panel of the plurality of wall panels are held in the firstchannel of a respective frame member by the adhesive; and an EMI meshgasket located in the second groove of each frame member.
 2. The shelterof claim 1, wherein each frame member further comprises a secondU-shaped channel, wherein the second U-shaped channel is orientedtransverse to the first U-shaped channel.
 3. The shelter of claim 2,wherein each frame member further comprises a third groove open to thesecond U-shaped channel and a fourth groove, spaced from the thirdgroove, open to the second U-shaped channel.
 4. The shelter of claim 3,further comprising a second adhesive bead located in the third groove.5. The shelter of claim 4, further comprising a second metal gasketlocated in the fourth groove.
 6. The shelter of claim 2, wherein thewalls of each frame member comprise: a first wall; a second wall whichis spaced from and oriented parallel to the first wall; a third wallwhich is oriented perpendicular to the first wall; and a fourth wallwhich is spaced from and oriented parallel to the third wall.
 7. Theshelter of claim 6, further comprising a bracing wall that extendsbetween the second and fourth walls.
 8. The shelter of claim 1, whereinthe frame members are of substantially uniform cross section.
 9. Theshelter of claim 8, wherein the frame members are made of an extrudedmetal material.
 10. The shelter of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of corner elements for interconnecting the plurality of framemembers.
 11. The shelter of claim 10, wherein the plurality of cornerelements comprises an upper corner member comprising first and seconddownwardly extending stub shafts which engage a vertically extendingframe member at its upper end, and a lower corner member comprisingfirst and second vertically extending stub shafts which engage thevertically extending frame member at its lower end.
 12. The shelter ofclaim 11, further comprising a metal corner support element disposed inthe vertically extending frame member.
 13. A containerized shelter whichprovides electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection, comprising: aplurality of interconnectable metal frame members, wherein each framemember comprises elongated walls defining a first U-shaped channel, afirst groove open to the first channel and, spaced therefrom, a secondgroove open to the first channel, and a second U-shaped channel orientedtransverse to the first channel, a third groove open to the secondchannel and, spaced therefrom, a fourth groove open to the secondchannel; a plurality of metal corner members via which the plurality offrame members are connected together to define a three dimensionalrectangular configuration; a plurality of non-metallic wall panels, eachpanel including first and second side edges and first and second endedges, each panel including a first face; a metal foil layer mounted tothe first face of each of the plurality of panels; an adhesive beadlocated in the first and third grooves of each frame member; an EMI meshgasket located in the second and fourth grooves of each frame member;and wherein the first and second side edges and first and second endedges of a respective wall panel are adhesively held in the first andsecond channels of the respective frame members.
 14. The shelter ofclaim 13, wherein a ferritic cage is defined for the shelter by thecooperation of the metal foil layer with the EMI mesh gaskets and themetal frame members.
 15. The shelter of claim 13, wherein the pluralityof corner members comprises: a plurality of upper corner elements eachincluding first and second downwardly extending stub shafts mounted on asupport plate; a plurality of lower corner elements each including firstand second vertically extending stub shafts mounted on a base plate; andwherein a respective upper corner element engages an upper end of avertically oriented frame member via the first and second downwardlyoriented stub shafts and a respective lower corner element engages alower end of the vertically oriented frame member via the first andsecond vertically extending stub shafts.
 16. The shelter of claim 15,further comprising a metal corner support element disposed in thevertically extending frame member.
 17. The shelter of claim 13, whereinthe frame members define an L-shaped configuration in cross-section. 18.The shelter of claim 13, wherein each frame member comprises spacedfirst and second walls which cooperate to define the first channel andspaced third and fourth walls which cooperate to define the secondchannel.
 19. An ISO shipping container which functions as anelectromagnetic interference (EMI) shelter, comprising: a plurality ofinterconnectable metallic frame members which each include elongatedwalls that serve to define a first U-shaped channel, a first groove opento the first channel and, spaced therefrom, a second groove open to thefirst channel, and a second U-shaped channel which is orientedtransverse to the first channel, a third groove open to the secondchannel and a fourth groove, spaced from the third groove, which is opento the second channel; a plurality of non-metallic composite panelsforming the walls, floor and roof of the shelter, each including a firstface; a metal foil layer mounted to the first face of each panel of theplurality of panels; an adhesive bead located in the first and thirdgrooves; an EMI mesh gasket located in the second and fourth grooves;wherein respective edges of each of the plurality of panels areadhesively held in respective grooves of respective ones of theplurality of frame members to form a three dimensional structure;wherein a ferritic cage is defined in the shelter by the cooperation ofthe metal foil layers with the EMI mesh gaskets and the metal framemembers; and wherein the shipping container is capable of satisfyingshipping industry standard requirements for stackability.
 20. Theshipping container of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of cornermembers via which the plurality of frame members are connected togetherto define a three-dimensional rectangular configuration.